National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA)

Context

• The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has celebrated its Silver Jubilee.

About 

• At the inaugural session of the event, the Integrated Pharmaceutical Database Management System 2.0 (IPDMS 2.0) and Pharma Sahi Daam 2.0 app were launched.
• IPDMS 2.0: It is an integrated, responsive, cloud-based application developed by NPPA with technical support from Centre for Advanced Computing (C-DAC).
  • It is envisaged to optimise synergies in operations in order to promote the government’s thrust on ‘Ease of Doing Business’. 
  • It would provide a single window for submissions of various forms as mandated under Drug Price Control Order (DPCO), 2013. .
  • It would also enable paperless functioning of NPPA and facilitate the stakeholders to connect with it from across the country,
• Pharma Sahi Daam 2.0 app: This will have updated features like speech recognition, availability in Hindi and English, share button and medicine bookmarking. 
  • This version of Pharma Sahi Daam also has a facility for launching complaints by consumers through the consumer complaint-handling module. 

National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA)

• About: 
  • The NPPA was set up as an attached office of the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals (now Department of Pharmaceuticals since July, 2008) on 29th August 1997.
• Functions:
  • To implement and enforce the provisions of the Drugs Price Control Order (DPCO), 1995/2013 in accordance with the powers delegated to it.
  • To undertake and/or sponsor relevant studies in respect of pricing of drugs/formulations.
  • To monitor the availability of drugs, identify shortages, if any, and to take remedial steps.

Source: TH